Garmin Radar

The GRadar plugin works with modern Garmin (Ethernet capable) radar scanners only.

NOTE: The new Radar_pi v5.0 works with OpenCPN v5.0 and supports Garmin Radars. Many users will prefer to upgrade to OpenCPN v5.0 and use Radar_pi v5.0. We will leave this documentation in place for about 4 months for users of v4.8.8 and the dedicated Garmin plugin.

The chart plotter is a combination of a Gps and electronic charts. If Gps works as expected and, a bigger if, the chart is correct, then everything is fine. Add a radar to the mix, with an independent picture of targets, including land, buoys and other vessels, and compare the two. That is what this plugin does. It overlays the radar-picture on the chart plotter. If both agree, the navigator can be more confident that his navigation is correct. On the other hand, if the pictures disagree, there is one more thing to sort out.

To use this plugin the user must be familiar with both OpenCPN and radars. Without a sound knowledge in radar picture interpretation, the plugin will seem a bit confusing.

Gradar_pi

• Source: Github Repository Gradar_pi[1412]
• Download: https://opencpn.org/OpenCPN/plugins/gradar.html[1413]
  
• Forum: Garmin OpenCPN Radar Overlay Plugin[1414]

GXradar_pi

• Source: Github Repository GXradar_pi[1415]
• Download: https://opencpn.org/OpenCPN/plugins/gXradar.html[1416]
• Forum: Garmin XHD Radar Overlay Plugin[1417]

Newest Development

• Source: Github Repository- Beta Navionics/Halo/Garmin/GarminHx Radars[1418]

The Garmin Radar PlugIn for OpenCPN requires a specific hardware interface in order to allow the OpenCPN application to access the Ethernet data captured and broadcast by the radar scanner.

There are three interconnect scenarios possible, depending upon whether the installation includes an existing Garmin chartplotter, and the operational mode desired.
Interface Type 0: OpenCPN Slave Mode, using existing Garmin chartplotter.
Interface Type 1: OpenCPN Master Mode, using existing Garmin chartplotter.
Interface Type 2: OpenCPN Master Mode, no chartplotter.

Download and read the complete Installation Instructions: GRadarDoc.pdf[1419]

Follow the instructions on the Install and Enable[1420] page.

Once installed enable the plugin in Options→Plugins. The Preference button does not work. For GRadar Settings, read on.

When enabled the GRadar icon appears in the toolbar. The icon is an on/off switch and has two states indicting if the the plugin is working or not:

Off	On

As soon as the plugin is enabled there will also be a separate log window. This is how it looks when no radar is connected.

Rightclick to get to the GRadar Settings.

Operational Control

Describe all the options.

Describe all the options.

Describe all the options.

Describe all the options.

Certain radars transmits targets in NMEA sentences. OpenCPN can display these targets in a similar fashion as normal AIS targets. Read more: Radar Targets[1421]
Is this a good thing combined with GRadar or does it just clutter the display……??

HelmsMatt got everyone thinking on this!!

Thanks to all for your dedication and input.

We have made a tiny bit of progress and have documented all the test steps and results of your setting suggestions. In summary, we found that we had the v12 version of gradar plug-in installed and when we installed the v13, the message “Successfully added to multicast group 239.254.2.0” started appearing. We disabled the “tunnels” and simplified the ipconfig. Disabled Windows Firewall, Wireless adapter, and virus protection. Verified that Radar was powered on before starting OpenCPN and IP settings were exactly like Chuck's. Still the Radar button in OpenCPN will not go green.

Here are the details of the steps taken and results: 1. Disabled Windows Firewall 2. Disabled Wireless adaptor 3. Checked OpenCPN plug-ins and realized that we still had the v12 installed. 4. Copied the v13 dll into plug-ins and deleted the v12 dll 5. Verified Radar and GPS are powered up 5. Started OpenCPN and saw that log now contains “Successfully added to multicast group 239.254.2.0” 6. Tried clicking on Radar button but indicator stays red. 7. Here is log: 0: Found network interface: 172.16.1.1/16 1: Found network interface: 127.0.0.1/8 2: Scanner at 172.16.2.0 is accessible. 3: Successfully added to multicast group 239.254.2.0 4: UpdateState: PluginState [M] Searching (1) Scanner state: Unknown (0) 5: Heading: 265 6: Heading: 0 7: Heading: 264 8: Heading: 0

8. Disabled tunnel adaptors using CMD as administrator: netsh int teredo set state disabled netsh int isatap set state disabled

9. Rebooted 10.Below is results of ipconfig /all showing that only the Ethernet adaptor is running 11. Verified that Local Area Connections only has “IP version 4” checked 12. Verified that IP version 4 properties are statically set to: IP address: 172.16.1.1 Subnet mask: 255.255.240.0 Default gateway: 172.16.1.100 13. Verified that Windows Firewall is OFF 14. Verified that Micro Trend Internet Security & Virus Protection is OFF 15. Radar powered on. Started OpenCPN. 16. Log results are the same as above. Radar button does not turn green.

C:\Users\Cindy>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Cindy-ASUS Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Con troller (NDIS 6.20) Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C8-60-00-52-01-F4 DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 172.16.1.1(Preferred) Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.240.0 Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

See this forum thread for more troubleshooting. http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f134/opencpn-radar-overlay-plugin-79081-23.html#post1415816[1422]

Try cycling the power to reboot the scanner. Make sure its in Master mode before you Hit the Radar Button

OK, now this has become a puzzle requiring a solution. You seem to not be receiving any data from the scanner at all.

Cindy: Get wireshark

Wireshark · Download

Install and run wireshark with the scanner switched on, and OCPN inactive (not running). The scanner sends multicast status reporting continuously while powered up, with or without the OCPN PlugIn. gradar monitors these multicasts to determine the scanner status as reported in the log.

You should see something like the attached screen.

bdcat